The Gulf Between Doctors And Nurse PractitionersThe New York TimesFrom July 5: Dr. Pauline Chen writes: "Not long ago, I attended a meeting on the future of primary care. Most of the physicians in the room knew one another, so the discussion, while serious, remained relaxed. Toward the end of the hour, one of the physicians who had been mostly silent cleared his throat and raised his hand to speak. The other physicians smiled in acknowledgment as their colleague stood up."

Genetic Test Can Predict Most Aggressive Cases Of Prostate CancerTIMEFrom May 9: Analyzing a tumor's genes can predict which prostate cancers won't need additional treatment and which cases require more intensive therapies. Watchful waiting is a common strategy for treating prostate cancer, since in about 40 percent of cases the tumors are so slow-growing that they don't require additional, invasive biopsies or treatment and men with the cancer are more likely to die of other causes.

'Alarming' Physician Shortages Lie AheadHealthLeaders MediaFrom Nov. 21: While the reasons for the projected doctor shortage are clear—population health issues, shrinking physician reimbursements, workforce issues, and residency training insufficiencies—the path toward a solution is not. Perhaps you've seen reports saying that physician shortages may not be as bad as once feared. Maybe you believe that a greater push toward using mid-level providers is reason for hope among healthcare execs.

Robotic Surgery: da Vinci Versus The IdealInformationWeekFrom Nov. 28: When the da Vinci Surgical System was introduced in 2000 by Intuitive Surgical, it was heralded for ushering in a new era of robotic surgeries. The robot promised to make operations easier for the surgeon, reducing complications and pain while shortening time under anesthesia and time to recovery for the patient.

Men Pick Robotic Surgery For Prostate Cancer Despite RisksNPRFrom July 11: Pretty much every medical organization has told men to back off on screening for prostate cancer, because it can lead to unneeded treatment, including surgery that can leave a man incontinent and impotent. But it's hard to resist a robot.

Think ObamaCare Is Bad Now? It Gets Worse Next YearInvestors.comFrom Nov. 21: "Substandard" and "cut-rate" is what President Obama calls the health plans that millions of Americans have lost, even though they wanted to keep them. Backpedaling on his promise that "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan," Obama is now telling Americans another whopper: The insurance they can get on ObamaCare exchanges is a better deal.

Researchers: PSA Test Saves Lives, Government Guidelines Are WrongNewsmax HealthFrom April 18: Men with high PSA test results as early as age 45 are three times more likely to develop a life-threatening form of prostate cancer than those with lower levels, according to a new study that provides fresh evidence that the controversial screening method can benefit younger men.

More Legal Trouble for Affordable Care ActThe Los Angeles TimesFrom Oct. 31: If computer glitches are not enough of a problem, President Obama's healthcare law also has a legal glitch that critics say could cause it to unravel in more than half the nation. The Affordable Care Act proposes to make health insurance affordable to millions of low-income Americans by offering them tax credits to help cover the cost.

Falling Toilet Seats Have Injured 100 More Boys Each Year Since 2002Medical DailyFrom June 20: It's the bane of any young potty trainer, and research shows it's been happening with greater frequency for more than a decade. Falling toilet seats, be they of a wooden, porcelain, or plastic persuasion, have injured 100 more boys each year since 2002.